Editing Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 4

{{separate continuity|universe=TOS|cont=Dynamite Comics}}

{{Comic Data
| image=BSG04CovRoss.jpg
| title={{comics|vol2|4|nolink=y}}
| series=Dynamite
| issueno=4
| episode=
| writer= [[Dan Abnett]]<br/>[[Andy Lanning]]
| illustrator=[[Cezar Razek]]
| penciller=
| colorist= [[Vinicius Townsend]]
| letterer= [[Simon Bowland]]
| editor=
| cover= [[Alex Ross]] (Main Cover and Variants)<br/>[[Chris Eliopoulos]] (Subscription Cover)
| published=August 14, 2013
| collects=
| collected={{comics|memorial}}
| reprints=
| reprinted=
| pages=32
| isbn= 725130204622
| prev={{comics|vol2|3}}
| next={{comics|vol2|5}}
}}

:''Marooned in a reality where the ''{{alt|Galactica|TOS|Battlestar Galactica}}'' never existed and the Cylon's [sic] rule supreme, {{alt|Apollo|TOS}} joins a {{alt|Adama|TOS|very different|reality}} version of {{alt|Adama|TOS|his father}} in his relentless resistance against the {{alt|Cylons|TOS|Cylon|reality}} domination. Meanwhile, imprisoned in the holding cells of a Cylon Basestar, {{alt|Starbuck|TOS}} discovers an {{alt|Starbuck|TOS|unexpected and startling new ally|reality}}...''<ref>{{cite_web|url=https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513020462200411|title=Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #4|date=|accessdate=7 April 2020|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>

==Plot==

* Three months after his arrival in the [[alternate reality]], {{alt|Apollo|TOS}} leads a raid on {{alt-r|Equellus}}, freeing its remaining humans&mdash;including {{alt-r|Vella}} and {{alt-r|Puppis}}&mdash;by [[The Lost Warrior|repeating history]] (after a fashion) and destroying {{alt-r|Red-Eye}}.
* While Cylon collaborators {{alt-r|Lacerta}} and his henchmen hang, {{alt-r|Serina}} leads the air assault above using Apollo's [[Temporal Viper]].
* The liberation that the [[Colonial Resistance]] planned for weeks is successful, and Serina hands Apollo a helmet after she lands, so that he can take point in his craft.  
* The citizens of Equellus are transported back to [[Cache]], where he is warmly greeted by {{alt-r|Boomer}} and {{alt-r|Adama}}. Adama cautions that they should run such raids with greater care, noting that a [[fumarello]]-smoking {{alt-r|Starbuck|pirate character}} is being pursued by the {{alt-r|Cylons}} for hitting [[Baltifer's basestar|a basestar]] three months prior. This bolsters Apollo's hope of {{alt|Starbuck|TOS}}'s survival, as it fits his modus operandi. 
* With Apollo's hopes being right, after a fashion, the Cylons scan the sector coming up empty. Unbeknownst to them, ''{{alt-r|Galactica}}'' has [[sensor shield]]ing that prevents the Cylons from reading them.
* Lieutenant Starbuck is not entirely pleased at their evasion of the Cylons, preferring to fight them instead with the awesome {{alt-r|battlestar}} and resources they have at hand. Captain Starbuck disagrees, sharing his belief that the {{alt-r|Battle of Cimtar|human race lost}} and that all that's left is to tend to their own survival.
* Disgusted at knowing that a version of himself gave up on the human race, Lieutenant Starbuck leaves [[core command]] and heads down to his [[Temporal Viper]] to perform maintenance. 
* While in his Viper cockpit repairing a circuit board, Lieutenant Starbuck asks himself how a version of himself turned out "to be such a [[frimp]]? Such a vapor-sucking, [[pogee]]-eating sack of--" at the same time Captain Starbuck&mdash;fumarello in mouth and a bottle of [[ambrosa]] in hand&mdash;arrives at the bay asking himself the exact same thing about ''his'' counterpart. Lieutenant Starbuck takes note of a secret door leading from the room Captain Starbuck exited, and examines the hand reader after his counterpart walks away.
* Unsurprisingly, Lieutenant Starbuck discovers that the door opens for him, and he happens upon a secret laboratory wherein lie disassembled remains of a [[Cylon Warden]], {{alt-r|Centurion}}s, and even an {{alt-r|Imperious Leader}}.
* Captain Starbuck surprises his counterpart, noting that he left his fumarellos behind and explains that his techs have been able to use the Imperious Leader to devise the [[anti-Cylon technologies]] they deploy.
* Captain Starbuck has a heart-to-heart with his counterpart, noting that he too has had to make tough decisions to keep his crew alive; Lieutenant Starbuck continues to advocate an offensive approach, which the Captain disregards as being far too risky. 
* Lieutenant Starbuck tantalizes his counterpart with information on the [[Q-Cache]], which the Captain readily accepts.
* ''Galactica'' arrives near the hypergiant, which hides them from the Cylons as Lieutenant Starbuck uses his Viper's [[emergency tracker]] signal to ping Apollo. 
* On Cache, Apollo receives the signal and responds. In doing so, he opens Cache to a Cylon attack as [[Baltifer]]'s basestar jumps in using the [[temporal warp drive]] {{alt-r|Zee|Doctor Zee}} reverse-engineered from Starbuck's Viper. Baltifer commends Zee with begrudging, back-handed praise.  
* Captain Starbuck is able to hide ''Galactica'' using the sensor shield, but Baltifer's attentions are diverted by Apollo's signal, which allows them to find the Colonial Resistance&mdash;much to Adama's rancorous dismay.
* Baltifer opens communication with the base, greeting his old nemesis and noting the appearance of Apollo, {{alt-r|Apollo|who he had killed}}. 
* Baltifer forces Adama and Apollo's surrender after opening fire on Cache with the [[chronal cannon]], which revert Cache's tectonic plates to an ancient configuration. On Baltifer's promise that no further [[temporal weapon]]s would be used against the Colonial Resistance, Apollo flies Adama to the baseship in his Temporal Viper.
* While aboard ''Galactica'', Lieutenant Starbuck argues with his counterpart to engage the basestar. One of the pirate's crew members knocks Starbuck out cold, much to the Captain's relief.
* Adama and Apollo are brought before Baltifer and Zee. After trading barbs, Zee employs a [[tech spider]] to scan Apollo and confirms that Apollo is ''not'' the one killed by {{alt-r|Baltar}} in ''{{alt-r|Pegasus}}''<nowiki>'</nowiki> destruction. 
* When Apollo fails to explain this, Baltifer orders the destruction of Cache, noting that he only promised to not use temporal weapons against it... he said nothing about conventional ones as he launches the full force of the basestar's {{alt-r|Raider}}s to address the issue.

==Notes==

=== Publication Releases ===

* A version of this issue, the ''Battlestar Galactica #4 Exclusive Subscription Variant'', released in August 2013. Per the publisher:
*: ''A super-special, exclusive [[Chris Eliopoulos]] Cute cover, only available to comic shop subscribers and limited to initial orders!''<ref>{{cite_web|url=https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513020462200421|title=Battlestar Galactica #4 Exclusive Subscription Variant|date=|accessdate=7 April 2020|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>

=== Nods ===

* [[Equellus]], [[Vella]], [[Puppis]], [[Lacerta]], and [[Red-Eye]] (including its armored horse) are derived from the episode "[[The Lost Warrior]]," an {{TOS|Apollo}} centric episode of the [[Original Series]].
* The word "[[frimp]]" is another ''[[Galactica 1980]]'' nod.
* ''{{alt-r|Pegasus}}'' is the second (and only) battlestar in the alternate reality to be identified by name. Whether {{TOS|Cain}} commanded it or not remains unstated.

==Analysis==

* {{alt|Apollo}} develop an amicable working relationship with not only {{alt-r|Serina}} but also {{alt-r|Boomer}}, similarly mirroring the relationships Apollo had with their primary reality counterparts. The same can be said about the relationship between himself and {{alt-r|Adama}}. While there is fertile room for dealing with the complex (and discomforting) nuances of those relationships for all parties, the pace of the comic and the overall story arc&mdash;which lends to being a fun by-the-numbers romp&mdash;do not permit that. 
* Comparatively, the animosity between {{alt-r|Starbuck|Captain Starbuck}} and {{alt|Starbuck|TOS|Lieutenant Starbuck}} drive ''{{alt-r|Galactica}}''{{'|s}} engagement in the issue, culminating to the climax that is paid off in {{comics|vol2|5}}.
* [[Baltifer]]'s face is finally revealed in this issue, having been hidden and obstructed by shadow for the previous two issues, revealing the extent of {{alt-r|Zee}}'s merging of {{alt-r|Baltar}} and {{alt-r|Lucifer}}. Baltifer's motivations are further enhanced with the logic inherent in Lucifer's character, although Baltar's inherent hubris comes to play, ignited by not only the revelation of an alternate Apollo's existence but the survival of Adama, Baltar's old nemesis and leader of the [[Colonial Resistance]].
* Zee continues to play the role of the [[tropes:MadScientist|Mad Scientist]] to continue the story flow, particularly as [[tropes:NewPowersAsThePlotDemands|the inventor of]] the [[temporal warp drive]] and [[chronal cannon]]s, thereby allowing this five-issue arc to reach both its climax and {{comics|vol2|5|its conclusion}}.
* Baltifer's reneging on Apollo and Adama's perceived deal [[tropes:ExactWords|based on a mere technicality]]&mdash;in that he wouldn't use ''[[temporal weapon]]s'' to destroy the resistance base on [[Cache]]&mdash;is a variation of the [[tropes:ILied|"I lied"]] trope, in keeping with the spirit of the "[[tropes:YouSaidYouWouldLetThemGo|you said you would let them go]]" conversation at the end of this issue.

==Questions==

* How many other humans have been saved by the Colonial Resistance in the three months following Apollo's arrival?
* If Cain existed, did he command ''Pegasus'' when it was destroyed at the peace conference by Baltar's hand?
* Is the temporally displaced Apollo angling on kindling a romance with the alternate Serina?
* What kinds of sacrifices did {{alt-r|Starbuck|Captain Starbuck}} have to make? 
* How did Starbuck salvage ''Galactica''? 
* Where did ''Galactica'' come from, if it was not constructed by the Colonials in the alternate reality?

==Noteworthy Dialogue==

* '''{{alt-r|Red-Eye}}''' (about to execute {{alt-r|Lacerta}}): Pleading. ''Pathetic.''

* '''Red-Eye''' (about to execute {{alt-r|Vella}}): Humans. ''Pathetic.''

* ''The two Starbucks have a heart-to-heart:''
*: '''Captain Starbuck:''' You haven't had to ''do'' the things I have, kiddo. You haven't had to make the ''choices''. I keep my crew alive, that's a ''good day'' for me. I used to have ''loftier'' aspirations, just like you. Don't ''judge'' me.
*: '''Lieutenant Starbuck:''' This tech you have, these fighting ships... you could be making a ''difference''. 
*: '''Captain Starbuck:''' Reward and risk, kiddo. Not enough of the ''former'', too much of the ''latter.''

* ''{{alt-r|Adama}} is incensed at [[Baltifer]]'s reneging on their deal:''
*: '''Adama:''' You gave your ''word'', you monster.
*: '''Baltifer:''' Yes, and it is worth so ''little.'' I am surprised you don't know that by now.

<!--== Official Statements ==-->

==Related Imagery==

===Covers===

<gallery>
BSG04CovRoss.jpg|'''Main Cover'''<br/>''Art:'' [[Alex Ross]]
BSG04CovIncenSketch.jpg|'''Incentive Cover.''' Alternate main pencil sketch cover.<br/>''Art:'' [[Alex Ross]]
BSG04Cov25Only.jpg|'''Virgin cover'''.<br/>''Art:'' [[Alex Ross]]
BSG01CovSubscription.jpg|'''Subscription Cover''' "Cute Exclusive"<br/>''Art:'' [[Chris Eliopoulos]]
</gallery>

===Preview Pages===

: ''Please Note: These are used for promotional purposes by the publisher, and are provided here in the same vein.''

<gallery>
File:BSGv2041.jpg|Page 1
File:BSGv2042.jpg|Page 2
File:BSGv2043.jpg|Page 3
File:BSGv2044.jpg|Page 4
File:BSGv2045.jpg|Page 5
</gallery>

==External links==

* {{archivelink|url=https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513020462200r11|title=Dynamite.com: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #4}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{comic list|series=TOS}}

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